Rated Best Places to Work 2024 by Business Insurance, Continental Western Group is a regional property casualty insurance company offering commercial products and services through independent agents in the Midwest. CWG provides unique value through the service provided by our experienced group of employees and independent agents. Since 1886 - Strong, Local and Trusted.

 

As a Berkley company, we enjoy operational flexibility that allows us to deliver quality coverage solutions.  W. R. Berkley Corporation, and all member insurance companies, are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, and carry Standard & Poor’s Financial Rating of A+ (Strong).

#LI-AV1 #LI-Hybrid

This role can be based in one of our three offices which offer a hybrid work schedule with 4 days in the office; and 1 day remote where it makes sense to do so. (This is not a remote position).

• Urbandale, IA
• Lincoln, NE
• Luverne, MN

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer. 

As our Property Claims Director, you will provide strategic direction, oversight, operational direction and overall management of all commercial property claims handling at CWG.  You'll assist with training and education of staff.  We'll trust you to implement and monitor severity, complexity, and quality assurance standards and procedures.  You'll also proactively participate with the senior claims management team in developing and executing strategic plans to meet business objectives.  

 

What you can expect:

• Culture of innovation, teamwork, supportive colleagues and leaders willing to invest in talent
• Internal mobility opportunities 
• Visibility to senior leaders and partnership with cross functional teams
• Opportunity to impact change
• Benefits – competitive compensation, paid time off, comprehensive wellness benefits and programs, employer funded health savings account, profit sharing, 401k, paid parental leave, employee stock purchase plan, tuition assistance and professional continuing education

We'll count on you to:

 

Coach and Motivate People

• Attracts, coaches, and develops talent within the claims unit by providing frequent, specific, and constructive feedback.
• Facilitates the creation and execution of individual development plans to ensure continuous professional growth.
• Provides technical advice, direction, and mentoring to Claims staff to build expertise and confidence.
• Develops and delivers strategic training programs to enhance team capabilities and performance.

Build Effective Teams

• Directly manages a team of claims supervisors, managers, advisors, and specialists, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Leads by example in promoting outstanding customer service to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Carries out full-cycle supervisory responsibilities including hiring, onboarding, performance management, and conflict resolution in alignment with organizational policies and legal requirements.
• Collaborates across departments and with other W. R. Berkley Corporation companies to lead or participate in enterprise-level claims projects.

Manage Change

• Provides strategic direction and leadership for the claims unit, driving operational improvements aligned with evolving business needs.
• Leads change initiatives to ensure continuous improvement in claims handling and service delivery.
• Partners with cross-functional leaders to identify and implement strategies that support business segment goals such as profitability, growth, and competitive advantage.
• Develops and implements claims management policies and structures that adapt to organizational and market changes.

Drive Productivity

• Drives performance at all levels by setting clear expectations and holding team members accountable for achieving key metrics and objectives.
• Implements, monitors, and maintains quality assurance through a structured audit process to ensure consistent claims handling.
• Leverages management information systems to enhance team performance and identify trends for proactive decision-making.
• Develops and analyzes key performance indicators to monitor organizational effectiveness and guide operational decisions.

Business Acumen

• Develops and executes strategic and tactical plans to deliver superior claims results that align with company objectives.Implements cost containment programs that balance efficiency with service quality.
• Oversees complex, high-severity, and litigated claims, making critical reserve and settlement decisions beyond staff authority levels.
• Ensures compliance with all state statutes and regulatory/legal requirements in claims handling practices.

What you need to have:

• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in property claims; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Commercial Property policy expertise
• Previous team leadership experience required, with an ability and passion for talent development; ability to lead people and influence others to achieve results
• Ability to travel and work outside normal work schedule to fulfill responsibilities; position may involve managing a geographically diverse team and require travel to regional offices
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook
• Adjusts rapidly to changing situations to respond to a changing business environment or priorities

What makes you stand out:

• Prior Agribusiness and/or Farm experience; preferably Commercial Agricultural property claim experience
• Experience with Large Loss complex commercial claims 
• Excellent critical thinking, problem analysis, and problem resolution skills at both a strategic and functional level
• Strong decision-making skills, including the ability to recognize, analyze and improve claims performance 
• Effective listening, verbal, and written communication skills with ability to communicate across all levels of the enterprise
• Strong customer orientation

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiting agencies or firms.

The company offers a competitive compensation plan and robust benefits package for full time regular employees.

The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment.

Sponsorship not Offered for this Role